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Helping Our Youth Make Positive Choices for Their Future

A growing number of our community’s youth are in danger of falling prey to criminal activity. It surrounds them in their neighborhoods, in their schools, even at times in their homes. They face peer pressure that entices them to do things they may regret just to be “accepted” by the group. Most have no idea about the consequences of their behavior. As a result, many young people at an early age begin what may become a painful life of criminal behavior.
Aware that our young people have better choices than a life as habitual criminals, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Daniel “Chipp” Bailey, developed a new “Reality Program” to educate young people about the long term results of criminal behavior. The goal of the Program is to educate youth about the potential consequences of poor choices and to build solid foundations for the future. In addition, the program understands that children are faced with the strong desire to be accepted and tries to prevent or intervene before deviant behavior is nourished and developed into criminal behavior.

Education Not Intimidation

“Our Reality Program stresses education, not intimidation,” said Sheriff Bailey, “We want to educate young people about the “reality” of what happens after someone is arrested. It is our earnest hope that each young person who has a glimpse of what it’s like to be an inmate in a jail will reconsider his or her options and make better choices. We cannot force anyone to toe the line, but we can certainly let that person know in no uncertain terms what will happen to them if they don’t.”

Our Mission

To provide the community with a program which will help educate young people about the long term effects of participating in criminal activity.
We want to give these young people an introduction to the criminal justice system so they can see first-hand the possible ramifications of criminal behavior. They will be made aware of how they must be accountable for their actions.

Who May Participate

Participants may be from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools or schools from surrounding counties and must be between the ages of 9 and 16.  Each program session will host approximately 15-20 participants.  Each group will be made up of students from various schools.

How to Set Up an Appointment

School Resource Officers, with the consent of parents may make appointments Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling the Reality Program at (704)353-0819. Parents may also call the program hotline themselves. Parents or guardians must sign a waiver before their child will be allowed to participate. 

The Tour

Participants will report to Mecklenburg County Jail – Central, 801 E. Fourth Street. Tours are held on Saturday mornings beginning at 8:00 am. At the time of the tour, parents will attend a “Teen Issues” Forum, also at the jail. Those who participate must provide their own transportation.  Please bring a valid state issued picture I.D.
The tour is designed to be interactive, taking participants through each step of the arrest and intake process as it actually occurs. Participants are processed through the fingerprinting and mug shots area.
Next, participants witness a probable cause hearing in the Magistrate Hall. Following the hearing, they will proceed to Jail Reception and on to Dress Out to receive their uniform.
Throughout the entire tour, participants remain close supervision by Reality Team members. Participants are placed in a cell to feel the impact of confinement and also take part in a brief jail visit with their parent or guardian.
Before proceeding to the Release Post, participants gather in an activity room where an inmate volunteer will speak to them about the consequences of making poor choices. The inmate’s “How I Got to This Point In My Life ” talk will give the participants a realistic view of how accountability for one’s actions sometimes means arrest, jail and ultimately prison.
At the conclusion of the tour, participants are reunited with their parent or guardian for a debriefing with Reality staff to discuss the tour and the consequences of their behavior. 

Reality Teen Summit

After completing the tour, participants are required to return on an alternate Saturday to attend the Reality Teen Summit. Teen Summit is held once a month.  It is a three hour forum dedicated to the candidates only. Parents are not required to attend the summit. The session is an open discussion about various aspects of being a child growing up in today’s society. It is an opportunity for participants to have their voices heard. Guest speakers will also be on hand to lend valuable insight on a variety of topics.  At the close of the Summit, certificates of completion are presented to each participant. Although, participants are only required to attend one Teen Summit session, they are allowed to attend all twelve.
 
For More Information
Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Resource Officer at your child’s school or send an email to the Sheriff’s Office Reality Program or by phone at 704-353-0819.